Apparatus employed in closing boxes



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 (No Model.)

H. S. JEWELL. APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN CLOSING BOXES.

No. 600,348 Patented Mar. 8,1898,

INVENTOR ATTORNEY WITNESSES:

XTWZ/ w (No Model.) 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. H. S. JEWELL. APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN CLOSING BOXES. N0. 60 0 ,348.

Patented Mar. 8, 1898.

WITNESSES ATTORNEY UNi'rnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT S. JEIVELL, OF BROOKLYN, NEIV YORK.

APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN CLOSING BOXES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 600,348, dated March 8, 1898.

Application filed September 9, 1897. Serial No. 651,145. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT S. JEWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing in Brooklyn, Kings county, New York, have invented certain Improvements in Apparatus Employed in Closing Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an apparatus adapted for use in closing the ends of paper or pasteboard boxes which are usually of rectangular form and have flaps at the ends adapted to be folded and pasted or gummed, one flap upon another, to form the end closures. Usually both ends of the box are alike and each closed by four overlapping flaps. One end, called the bottom, is closed while the box is empty, and the other, which may be called the top, is closed after the box is filled. both ends of the box, two devices or apparatuses being used by preference, as the one for closing the bottoms of the empty boxes is adjusted differently from that used for closing the full boxes.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an embodiment of the apparatus, Figure 1 is a vertical axial section of the apparatus, and'Fig. 2 is a plan view of part of the same. These views show the apparatus adapted for use in closing the filled boxes. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 1, showing the apparatus adapted for use in closing the bottoms of the empty boxes; and Fig. 4 is a plan view of a part of the same, showing the blocks carried by the frame B. Figs. 5 and 6 show a paper box adapted to be closed with the aid of the apparatus. Fig. 7 illustrates a slight modification of the weight and weight-arm.

A represents an upright shaft rotatively mounted in suitable bearings a a above and below. This shaft may conveniently extend from floor to ceiling in the workroom. On this shaftA is secured in an adjustable manner a supporting-frame B for the boxes X, these latter being set 011 turn-tables b, mounted in rotative bearin gs in the rim of the frame B and preferably at equal distances apart. Fixed on the shaft A above the frame B is a weight-bearing frame 0, which may also be made adjustable up and down on the shaft A. In this frame 0 are pivotally mounted or hinged radiallyarranged arms 0, each of which has suspended from its outer free end My apparatus is designed for closing a weight cl and has also, by preference, a counterweight c at its inner end.

In the apparatus there will be a weight d directly over each turn-table b, and on its outer end the arm ohas a handle 0 for manipulating the weight, as will be hereinafter explained.

WVhere the apparatus is adapted foruse in closing the bottoms of empty boxes preparatory to filling them, an additional part is used, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The turn-table b has a bore extending down through it and a stem g, bearing on its upper end a block h, which fits nicely into the box X. The stem 9 is secured adjustably in the turn-table or box-support at the proper height by a setscrew 2'.

The apparatus is employed as will now be explained, premising that a box X, like that shown in Fig. 5, is to have its ends closed.

Sitting in front of that apparatus which is provided with the stem 9 and block h, as seen in Fig. 3, the operator takes an empty box X and pushes it down over the block it until the flaps as on the lower end of the box touch the turn-table. She then folds the flaps at the top or upper end in over the block it, applying paste or gum to them, so that one may be sealed down upon another. She now. pulls down the weight (1 by the handle 0, so as to apply its flat under face forcibly to the closed flaps, and leaving the weight resting on the flaps she turns the frames and shaft A around so as to bring the next turn-table and weight in front of her, and proceeds with another box. The frames B and C may be quite extended, so as to accommodate a number of turn-tables, sixteen being employed on the frame seen in the drawings. By the time the frame has made a complete rotation and brought the first box treated back to the operator the paste will be dry, or nearly so, and the operator will take this box off and lay it aside to make room for a fresh one. 'To do this, she first throws up the weight 01 to the position seen at the right in Fig. 1, the counterweight 6 serving to hold the arm 0 upright. After the boxes have been filled they are closed on the apparatus adjusted as seen in Figs. 1 and 2. As the box is now to be set IOO on the turn-table with its closed end or bottom down, the stem g, with the block h, is not employed, and the box being new shorter to the extent of the length of the end flaps at one end the frame B is moved upward and set at the proper height to accommodate the turn-table to the reduced length or height of the box. 7

The operation of folding in the flaps and pasting them down and the application of the weight d is precisely the same with the filled boxes as with the empty ones, and therefore will not require a separate description.

The object in making the box-support b in the form of a turn-table is to permit the operator to turn the box around quickly and conveniently when applying paste to the flaps and folding them in, and the purpose in hinging or suspending the weight cl from the end of the arm 0 is to permit it to adapt itself to the surface of the box end on which it rests.

I do not of course restrict myself to the exact details of construction herein shown, as these may be varied to some extent without departing materially from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is not material to the operation of the apparatus whether the shaft A rotates with the frames B and C or whether they rotate about the shaft. The counterweight e is not absolutely essential; but if it were not employed the arm 0 would have to be swung back farther when the Weight is lifted in order to keep it from falling forward. Fig. 7 illustrates the construction when the counterweight is omitted. If only filled boxes are to be closed, it will be obvious that the stem g and block 72 may be dispensed with. Preferably one apparatus, adjusted as shown in Fig. 1, will be employed for closing the filled boxes, and another, adjusted as shown in Fig. 3, will be employed for closing the empty boxes; but one apparatus might of course be used for closing both empty and filled boxes.

The swing of the arm 0 is limited in both directions by impingement on some part of the frame 0, so that it can only play through a little more than a quadrant.

In closing the filled boxes or cartons the operator will by preference invert the box after pasting down the flaps, so that the weight of the contents is added-to that of the weight d, as will be readily understood; but this mode of operating is not compulsory.

The characteristic feature of this apparatus is itsadaptability to the uses for which it is intended, where the operations are wholly manual, the operator shifting the support B and rotating the turn-tables b one way or the other by hand, as may be necessary. This is important in closing paper cartons with folding fiaps.

Having thus described my invention, I claim-- I 1. In an apparatus for use in closing the ends of paper boxes or cartons, the combination with a laterally-movable series of connected supports for the boxes, capable of being shifted by hand, of a series of connected weight-arms movable with the box-supports and one above each of said supports, said arms being hinged and adapted to be raised and lowered by hand, and weights suspended one from the end of each of said arms, whereby the operator is enabled to raise and lower the weight-arm and shift the box-supports at will, substantially as set'forth.

2. In an apparatus for use in closing the ends of paper boxes or cartons, the combination with a box-supporting frame B, freely rotatable by hand about an upright axis and provided with a series of turn-tables freely rotatable by hand in either direction,a weightbearing frame 0, rotatable with the box-supporting frame and situated above the latter, a series of weight-arms c, hinged to the frame 0, one over each turn-table, and capable of being raised and lowered at will by hand, and weights d, suspended one from each arm 0, substantially as set forth.

3. In an apparatus for use in closing the ends of paper boxes or cartons, the combination with a rotatively-mounted, upright shaft A, of a box-supporting frame B, fixed on said shaft and adapted to be rotated by hand with said shaft, a series of turn-tables b, mounted in the frame and capable of being rotated freely by hand, a frame 0, 'fixed adjustably on the shaft A, whereby it may be shifted vertically up or down on the shaft, the arms 0, hinged in the frame 0, one over each turntable 17, and adapted to be raised and lowered by hand, and weights d, one carried by each arm 0, substantially as set forth.

l. In an apparatus for use in closing the ends of paper boxes, the combination with the frame B, mounted to rotate about an upright axis and provided about its margin with a series of turn-tables b, of the frame 0, situated above the frame B and rotatable therewith about the same axis, said upper frame being provided with radially-arranged hinged arms 0, each having a weight d suspended from its outer end in position directly over one of the turn-tables on the lower frame, and a counterweight e, at its hinged end to hold the arm 0 erect when thrown up, substantially as set forth.

5. In an apparatus for use in closing the ends of paper boxes, the combination with a laterally-movable series of connected supports for the boxes, capable of being shifted by hand, of the said supports, each comprising a turn-table rotatably mounted in the frame and capable of being turned freely by hand, a stem g, secured adjustably in said turn-table, and a block h, on the upper end said stem, and aseries of weight-bearing arms and weights arranged over the respective turn-tables and moving therewith, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HERBERT S. J E'WELL.

Witnesses:

HENRY CoNNETT, PETER A. Ross. 

